Objective: To investigate the methods and safety of endovascular embolization for treatment of posterior cerebral artery aneurysms. Methods: Eight patients with posterior cerebral artery aneurysms treated by using endovascular embolization were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical features, method of treatment and prognosis of the patients were summarized. Results: Circled digit oneThere were eight patients with 8 aneurysms. Of those, one aneurysm was located at the P1 segment, 2 were at the P1-P2 segment, 3 were at the P2 segment, and 2 were at the P3 segment. There were 6 patients with fusiform or dissecting aneurysm and 2 with saccular aneurysm. Circled digit twoOne patient was treated by balloon occlusion of parent artery. Five patients were treated by coil packing of the aneurysmal sacs and parent artery occlusion. Two patients were treated by coil packing of the aneurysmal sacs only. Circled digit threeAfter the procedure, DSA showed that all the aneurysms disappeared completely. There were no ischemic symptoms in the six patients with parent arteries occlusion after the procedure. No neurological deficits and other intervention-related complications were found in all the patients. Circled digit fourNo recurrence of the aneurysm was observed under DSA re-examination 3 to 6 months after the procedure. The patients were followed up for 1 to 12 years and all returned to their normal life. Conclusion: Endovascular embolization is a safe and effective therapeutic approach for posterior cerebral artery aneurysms.

The active ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine, silybin (SBN), can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells and enhance the anticancer effect of doxorubicin (DOX). However, due to non-targeting and short half-life of SBN and DOX, as well as different administration routes and pharmacokinetic processes, this combination drug cannot act on the tumor in the set order, seriously eliminating the synergistic effect between them and limiting the effect in vivo. Therefore, we intended to construct a nano-delivery system based on molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), modified by polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sialic acid (SA), and co-loaded with SBN and DOX. The system induced the release of combined drugs under the dual-stimulation of pH and near infra-red (NIR), increased the free concentration of intracellular drugs, so as to achieve the synergistic effect between them. The animal welfare and experimental procedures were in accordance with the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. MoS₂-PEG-SA-SBN/DOX circulated in vivo, and effectively accumulated at tumor sites through enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR) and SA-mediated active targeting. Under near infrared light irradiation, MoS₂-PEG-SA-SBN/DOX realized the combination of synergistic chemotherapy and photothermal therapy for tumor, thus achieving excellent anti-tumor effect in vivo. This study can provide a new idea and strategy for the clinical treatment of lung cancer. Taken together, MoS₂-PEG-SA-SBN/DOX can offer a new idea and strategy for the clinical treatment of lung cancer.

Huangqi powder injection's positive rate of skin-test was 12.3%. Qingkailing powder injection was 3.0%. Qingkailing injection was 7.6%. Shuanghuanglian injection was 6.3%. Penicillin's rate of allergic reactions was 0.7%-10%. Different form of a drug (power or injection) and different drug consistency could influence the positive rate of skin-test. We don't use drug in positive group, and we use drug in negative group. Some trial subjects still happened allergic reactions in negative group of skin-test. In negative group of skin-test, Huangqi power injection's rate of allergic reactions was 2.1%. Qingkailing injection was 0.4%. Shuanghuanglian injection was 0.9%-2.6%. Shuanghuanglian injection's rate of allergic reactions was 8.6% in all subjects (31/360 include the subjects with positive skin-test and allergic reactions). Qingkailing powder injection's rate of allergic reactions was 4.5% (6/132). Qingkailing injection' s rate of allergic reactions was 9.1% (12/132). Huangqi power injection's rate of allergic reactions was 15.4% (62/402). The total rate of allergic reactions was 10.8%. The main appearance of Penicillin's skin-test was welling under skin, and with some blush. But the main appearance of traditional Chinese medicine skin-test was blush, and with a little welling under skin. Skin-test can reduce the allergic reactions of Qingkailing powder injection, Shuanghuangiian injection, Huangqi power injection. It can be the one measure of reducing adverse reactions.
Astragalus membranaceus ; adverse effects ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Polysaccharides ; adverse effects ; isolation & purification ; Skin Tests

OBJECTIVETo investigate the cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene -204A/C polymorphism and its relationship with serum lipids and apolipoproteins (apo) levels in patients with endogenous hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) in Chinese population in Chengdu area.

METHODSThe genotype and allele frequencies of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene -204A/C polymorphism were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Serum lipids were measured by enzymatic kits and apolipoproteins AI, AII, B100, CII, CIII and E were measured by the RID kits in 132 HTG patients and 212 control subjects.

RESULTSAllele frequencies of A and C were 0.602 and 0.398 in HTG group and 0.601 and 0.399 in control group, respectively. There was no significant difference of allele and genotypes frequencies between HTG and control groups (P> 0.05). In HTG group, carriers with the genotypes CC and AC were associated with significantly higher concentrations of triglycerides and apoCIII compared with those with genotype AA (P< 0.05). In the control group, carriers with the genotypes CC and AC were associated with significantly lower serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level compared with those with genotype AA (P< 0.05). In the male control group, carriers with the genotypes CC and AC had elevated levels of serum triglycerides than those with genotype AA (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that -204A/C polymorphism in the CYP7A1 gene does not relate with HTG but may has an effect on serum triglyceride and apoCIII levels in patients with endogenous HTG, the serum HDL-C level in control subjects and the serum TG level in male control subjects.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; blood ; ethnology ; genetics ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

Embolization therapy has been used as the initial treatment for spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (SDAVF) only for certain patients or in certain medical institutions due to its minimal invasiveness, but the recurrence of embolization remains a clinical challenge. The recurrent patient usually exhibits a gradual onset of symptoms and progressive deterioration of neurological function. Developing paraplegia several hours after embolization is commonly seen in patients with venous thrombosis-related complications, for which anticoagulation therapy is often administered. This article reports on a SDAVF patient who had weakness of both lower extremities before embolization and developed complete paraplegia several hours after embolization therapy, later confirmed by angiography as fistula recurrence. The symptoms were relieved gradually after second embolization. The pathophysiology of this patient is also discussed.
Aged ; Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Humans ; Paraplegia ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between two polymorphisms immediately upstream of the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) gene and preeclampsia in a South West Han Chinese population.

METHODSBlood samples from 205 patients with preeclampsia and 276 normal pregnant women as controls from Han Chinese in Chengdu area were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms.

RESULTSG and A allele frequencies for -1195G>A site were 48.54% and 51.46% in the patient group, respectively, and 40.40% and 59.60% in the control group, respectively. G and C allele frequencies for -765G>C site were 94.15% and 5.85% in the case group, respectively, and 94.38% and 5.62% in the control group, respectively. The AA genotype and variant A allelic frequencies of the -1195G>A SNP were significantly lower in patients with preeclampsia than in the control group (P<0.05), and the odds ratio for the risk of preeclampsia was 0.665 (95% CI: 0.444-0.982) in women homozygous for the variant COX2 A allele ( x²=4.233, P=0.047). The genotype and allele frequencies of the -765G>C polymorphism in patients with preeclampsia and controls showed no significant differences (P>0.05). Additional subgroup analyses (mild vs severe preeclampsia) of the two polymorphisms failed to reveal significant correlation for either genotypic or allelic frequencies. Furthermore, there was no significant association between the polymorphisms and blood pressure levels in the patient or control groups.

CONCLUSIONCOX2 -1195A homozygosity is associated with a decreased risk for preeclampsia in a South West Han Chinese population. On the other hand, the -765G>C polymorphism has no effect.

Adult ; Alleles ; Blood Pressure ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Pre-Eclampsia ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors

Treatment of refractory idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a challenging problem. We reported a refractory IIH patient who manifested with typical intracranial hypertensive symptoms successfully treated with endovascular stent implantation. Pre-operative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) opening pressure is 36 cmH2O. Cerebral angiography demonstrated a stenotic lesion located at the right transverse sinus (TS). The stenotic TS returned to its normal caliber and the pressure gradient deceased from 36 mmHg to 4 mmHg after the stent placement. The intracranial hypertensive symptoms resolved and one month later, the CSF opening pressure decreased to 14 cmH2O.
Cerebral Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pseudotumor Cerebri ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Transverse Sinuses ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery

This study was to investigate the relationship between the CD34(+)CD38(-) cell population and its proportion in G(0) phase of de novo AML non-M(3) at diagnosis and the clinical and experimental characteristics. The flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of the cell surface antigen CD34 and CD38 in the bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNC) of the AML non-M(3) at diagnosis and investigate the cell cycle of the subpopulations, and then the relationships between the proportion of CD34(+)CD38(-)cell population and its G(0) state and the complete remission (CR) rate after the first induction chemotherapy was analyzed. The results showed that the proportion of the CD34(+)CD38(-) cell population and its G(0) phase had no relationship with the karyotypes and WBC count at new diagnosis and the Flt3/ITD status, but correlate with the blasts in the bone marrow after the first course induction chemotherapy. The proportion of the CD34(+)CD38(-) cells in patients who have visible blasts in the bone marrow at day 7 after completion of the first course induction chemotherapy was (12.47 ± 26.26)%, but the counterparts was (2.62 ± 7.20)% in the group of patients whose bone marrow had no visible blasts (p = 0.031). The proportion of the CD34(+) cell population in patients who had visible blasts in the bone marrow at day 1 after completion of the first course induction chemotherapy was (17.40 ± 21.20)%, yet the proportion of the CD34(+) cell populations was (5.64 ± 6.96)% in the patients who had no visible blasts in the bone marrow (p = 0.001). The proportion of the CD34(+)CD38(-) cell populations in the patients who achieved CR after the first course induction chemotherapy was (2.51 ± 9.72)%, which was lower than the proportion (24.92 ± 27.04%) of the non-CR patients (p = 0.001). Furthermore, the proportion (1.60 ± 4.82%) of the CD34(+)CD38(-) cell population in the AML non-M(2b) CR patients was more obviously lower than that in the non-CR patients (p < 0.001). In univariate analysis, whether or not achieved CR after the first course induction chemotherapy correlated with age (p = 0.022), the proportion of the CD34(+)CD38(-) cell population (p = 0.008) and the proportion of the visible blasts in the bone marrow at day 7 after induction therapy (p = 0.011). Multivariate analysis showed that only the proportion of the CD34(+)CD38(-) cells had correlation tendency with CR rate. It is concluded that the proportion of the CD34(+)CD38(-) cells in bone marrow of de novo AML non-M(3) is a prognostic factor to anticipate the CR rate of the first course for induction therapy.
ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD34 ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Cycle ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Remission Induction ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of PTEN (phosphatase and tension homology deletion on chromosome 10, PTEN) and its pseudogene PTENP1 in acute leukemia (AL) and correlation between them, and to explore the role of PTENP1 on the PTEN expression in AL cells.

METHODSPTEN and PTENP1 mRNA expression were evaluated in bone marrow (BM) samples from 138 newly diagnosed AL patients and 15 healthy controls by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). pCDH1-PTENP1 3'UTR-GFP lentivirus vectors were constructed. 293T cells were transfected by calcium phosphate precipitation to produce retrovirus. HL-60 cell line was infected with the retroviral vectors expressing pCDH1-GFP and pCDH1-PTENP1 3'UTR-GFP respectively. The flow cell sorter was used to sort the HL-60 with GFP positively expressed. The mRNA expression of PTEN and PTENP1 was detected by qRT-PCR, the expression of PTEN protein by western blot, and the impact of PTENP13'UTR on the proliferation of HL-60 cells by MTT assay.

RESULTSAML patients showed significantly lower PTEN and PTENP1 mRNA expression in BM compared to healthy controls. Correlation analysis showed that the expression of PTEN and PTENP1 mRNA were positively correlated (P < 0.05). The 108 cases of PTENP1(+) AML were classified according to the prognostic classification of 2011 NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in AML, there was no difference among different subgroups. HL-60 cell line was infected with the retroviral vectors expressing pCDH1-GFP (control group) and pCDH1-PTENP1 3'UTR-GFP respectively. Compared with the control group, PTENP1 mRNA level of HL-60 infected with the retroviral vectors expressing pCDH1-PTENP1 3'UTR-GFP increased significantly, and PTEN mRNA level also increased. While the PTEN protein level and the cell growth rate of the PTENP1 3'UTR group didn't change significantly.

CONCLUSIONPTEN and PTENP1 mRNA expression level of BM cells from AL patients is significantly lower. There is a positive correlation between expression of PTEN and PTENP1 mRNA. PTENP1 may regulate the expression of PTEN in mRNA level.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Gene Expression ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; genetics ; Pseudogenes ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Transfection ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDMost previous neuroimaging studies have focused on the structural and functional abnormalities of local brain regions in major depressive disorder (MDD). Moreover, the exactly topological organization of networks underlying MDD remains unclear. This study examined the aberrant global and regional topological patterns of the brain white matter networks in MDD patients.

METHODSThe diffusion tensor imaging data were obtained from 27 patients with MDD and 40 healthy controls. The brain fractional anisotropy-weighted structural networks were constructed, and the global network and regional nodal metrics of the networks were explored by the complex network theory.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy controls, the brain structural network of MDD patients showed an intact small-world topology, but significantly abnormal global network topological organization and regional nodal characteristic of the network in MDD were found. Our findings also indicated that the brain structural networks in MDD patients become a less strongly integrated network with a reduced central role of some key brain regions.

CONCLUSIONSAll these resulted in a less optimal topological organization of networks underlying MDD patients, including an impaired capability of local information processing, reduced centrality of some brain regions and limited capacity to integrate information across different regions. Thus, these global network and regional node-level aberrations might contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of MDD from the view of the brain network.

Adult ; Anisotropy ; Brain ; pathology ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; pathology ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male